Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.4895

v2.c36.4895

Setavyā.—A town in Kosala,¹ near which was Ukkaṭṭha. The Aṅguttara Nikāya² records a conversation between the Buddha and the brahmin Doṇa, whom the Buddha met on the road from Ukkaṭṭha to Setavyā. The city was on the road, taken by Bāvārī's disciples,³ from Sāvatthi to Rājagaha, and was the first halting-place outside Sāvatthi. Beyond it were Kapilavatthu, Kusinārā, Pāvā, etc. To the north of Setavyā was the Simsapāvana, where Kumāra Kassapa lived, and where he preached the Pāyāsi Sutta to the brahmin Pāyāsi, who held a royal fief there.⁴ The city was the birthplace of the Theras Ekadhammasavaṇiya and Mahākāla (q.v.). Mahākāla's brothers Cūlakāla and Majjhimakāla also lived there.⁵ The Aṅguttara Commentary⁶ says that Kassapa Buddha was born in Setavyā, but both the Buddhavamsa and its Commentary say that he was born in Benares.⁷ The Buddhavamsa Commentary⁸ records further that Kassapa died in the Setārāma in Setavyā, but adds that Setavyā was a city in Kāsi.